Join the Albanian-American Community of Illinois (AACI) for an evening where poetry becomes a living act of freedom. “Poezia Është Liri” is a special cultural gathering held in honor of Dita e Lirisë (Day of Freedom)—proclaimed by Governor JB Pritzker on January 28—a date that commemorates the release of the renowned Albanian writer Visar Zhiti from prison and celebrates the freedom of the spoken word and conscience.

Visar Zhiti’s story is inseparable from the power of literature to endure under oppression. Widely regarded as one of Albania’s greatest living poets, he was imprisoned from 1979 to 1987 under Enver Hoxha’s communist dictatorship, one of many intellectual “scapegoats” targeted to intimidate society. With no pencil or paper allowed, Zhiti continued to write by composing poems in his mind, and fellow prisoners helped keep those verses alive by memorizing them—an act of survival, solidarity, and quiet resistance. Only after Hoxha fell from power and political prisoners were freed could Zhiti’s poetry finally reach the printed page, allowing the wider world to encounter work shaped by suffering yet marked by remarkable gentleness and imagination.

This evening invites the community to experience that legacy up close -through selected readings, conversation and reflection on the theme of liria (freedom). Guests will have the opportunity to engage with Zhiti’s work and presence in a setting designed to feel like a “gallery of poetry,” with featured books on display, including The Condemned Apple: Selected Poetry (bilingual edition), alongside other titles being highlighted for the night.

The event takes place Wednesday, January 28, 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM at Mayslake Peabody Estate (Oak Brook, IL). Doors open at 5:30 PM. The program is moderated by Adelsa Hoti and includes welcoming remarks from Edon Shaqiri, Chair of the Board. The evening flows into poetry readings and culminates with an intimate conversation with Visar Zhiti on “Liria, poezia dhe ndërgjegjja” (“Freedom, poetry, and conscience”).

About AACI: The Albanian-American Community of Illinois is a nonprofit organization that serves and connects the Albanian-American community across the state—representing a vibrant network of families, professionals, students, and friends of Albanian culture. AACI’s mission is to bring people together through cultural, educational, and social programming, preserving heritage while building community in Illinois. Through gatherings like this—rooted in history, faith in the human spirit, and love for the arts—AACI works to strengthen community bonds, elevate Albanian voices and create spaces where identity and belonging can be celebrated openly.

Celebrating Albanian Literature

Day of Freedom with Author Visar Zhiti

Team Members